2006 Echo Lake Lodge Newsletter

P.O. Box 1137                                  P.O. Box 124

Red Lake, Ontario P0V 2M        Amherst, WI 54406

807-727-2543                          715-824-5876

(summer)                                                           (winter)

www.echolakelodge.com          tehr@echolakelodge.com

This summer marked the 40^th anniversary of Tom’s first visit to Echo Lake Lodge.  He was 17 in 1966 when he was recruited by the former owner, Hank Faess, to be a fishing guide and camp hand. 

      Tom  1966                                    Tom  2006

Good things came in “twos” this summer!  When the two “Joes” (Joe Ostrowski and Joe Blanke) went fishing on High Lake, they caught two Northern (41” and 38”) within an hour.  Rick Martens caught two nice Northern (36” and 40”) ­two days apart on two different lakes (High and Detour).  Two brothers (Collin and Alex Flagel) caught two nice Lake Trout (28” and 26”) out of the same boat. 

Walleye fishing was great no matter where you fished this season!  In fact, four nice walleyes were caught on four different lakes:  TJ Meiners 27” on Little Beaver, Chuck Friedman 26½” on Detour, Jim Jones 26½” on No Fish and Kevin Bjornsen 26” on High Lake.  This summer six different age classes of Walleye were caught on No Fish.     

Former caretaker, Adam Fischer, proved he remembered where the fish are by catching a 26” Lake Trout in Trout Bay on Underbrush Lake. 

Bear season was successful with hunters shooting 4 out of 6.  Randy Augustinak shot his first Black Bear ever and shot it with a bow.  Jim Carey’s 350# boar was also harvested with a bow.  Jon Kirsling’s first bear was a nice 325# boar.  Charley Whitmarsh’s 400# boar was the biggest this season.   

Guests to Echo saw several new projects in progress.  We built 2 new woodsheds (one by the lodge and one between Caribou and Moose) as well as a fish-cleaning house.  Check out the pictures on the website.  Several groups were pleased to be able to use the new kitchen and dining room facilities in the main lodge this summer.  The walk to Detour is getting easier and easier thanks to a dedicated crew who hope to finish replacing the logs on the last swamp next summer.   

Several new lakes were explored this summer.  The lake between Underbrush and Detour just north of the trout spawning beds is only 12 feet deep and does not seem to hold fish.  Clear Lake on Antler Road is about 70 feet deep in some places and has northern.  Jim Jones bushwhacked to Trout Lake with TJ Meiners and Chuck Friedman.  It is about 45 feet deep with lots of shallow bays.  Thanks to them, the lake is opened up again after 25 years, but since no one was successful in catching a trout there this summer, we might have to re-name the lake!

We planted a garden this summer and were able to enjoy fresh lettuce, onions, beans and peas.  We managed to pick raspberries for some pies, but for the second year in a row, there were few blueberries.  Watching Clayton Bjornsen and Mike Dennis play “rock to rock” reminded us of when our kids used to play that game for hours.  An interesting first time visitor to camp was a double-crested cormorant.  See its picture on the website, too.      

With the rising price of gas and propane over the past few years, we are forced to increase our camp fees for next season.  Please check the new rate sheet.  Also notice that beginning January 1, 2008 passports will be required to enter the US.   

As always, our mailing list guests have first priority to make reservations for Summer 2007.  We encourage you to reserve your trip to Echo Lake Lodge as soon as your group has finalized their plans.   We require that you put 50% down within 2 weeks of making your reservation and send the balance by May 1, 2007. 

Thank you for choosing Echo Lake Lodge for your Canadian vacation.  Remember to send us your favorite pictures so we can post some of them on our web site.  We wish all of you a healthy and safe holiday season. 

From the Wisconsin Loon’s Nest,

Tom & Mitzi